Spark Advisory Partners

What Spark Advisory Partners does

Spark Advisory Partners Limited is an FCA-authorized and regulated independent corporate finance advisory firm founded in 2012 and headquartered in London, with a second office in Leeds. The firm provides strategic advice across four core service lines: Private Capital (private and public capital raisings), IPOs, Strategic Advice and M&A, and Nominated Adviser and Sponsor services. Its client base is predominantly UK-focused and includes public companies listed on AIM and the Main Market, private companies seeking growth or exit capital, VCTs requiring sponsor services, and boards involved in Takeover Code transactions. SPARK holds both Nominated Adviser status for AIM and Sponsor status for the Main Market — a combination held by only a small number of UK advisory firms.

The firm operates on a partner-led, relationship-based go-to-market model with no proprietary technology platform, no API, and no AI/ML capabilities disclosed. Revenue is generated through professional services fees, primarily transaction-based success fees for capital raises, M&A mandates, IPOs, and disposals, supplemented by ongoing retainer-based advisory engagements. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is structured around transaction complexity and scope. The firm has completed high-profile transactions including the £425m Morson Group PE buyout (2024), the £2.1bn Greatland Resources AIM/ASX cross-listing (2025, winner of AIM Awards 2025 Transaction of the Year), and multiple VCT sponsor mandates.

The team comprises four Partners (Matt Davis, Andrew Emmott, Neil Baldwin, Mark Brady) and at least one Director (James Keeshan), all with prior experience at major firms including Deloitte, KPMG, Brewin Dolphin, Robert W. Baird, and Strand Hanson. The firm is owner-managed with no external institutional investors or parent company, and is not funded by venture capital or private equity. Marketing is primarily driven by professional reputation, referrals, and personal networking, with a limited presence on LinkedIn and Twitter. A new institutional-quality Business Valuation Tool has been introduced to broaden top-of-funnel client acquisition beyond the traditional partner-led model.

Name

Spark Advisory Partners

Legal name

SPARK Advisory Partners Limited

Website

https://sparkadvisorypartners.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Spark Advisory Partners is an FCA-regulated, partner-led UK corporate finance boutique founded in 2012, providing independent advisory on private capital, IPOs, M&A, and Nominated Adviser/Sponsor services to public and private companies across the UK.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Corporate Finance Advisory

NAICS

Investment Banking and Securities Intermediation (523150), Other Management Consulting Services (541618), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)

akta.pro primary industry

Capital Raising Advisory (Debt/Equity/Private Capital) (BPAHADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate Finance & Capital Advisory (BPAHADAB), Corporate Finance Advisory (Strategic Finance, Capital Structure & Recaps) (FSAEAGAE), Corporate Development & Strategic Partnerships Advisory (JVs, Alliances, Carve-outs) (BPAHAOAG), Capital Raising Advisory (Equity & Equity-Linked) (FSAEAGAC)

Keywords

• Corporate finance advisory
• M&A advisory services
• IPO advisory
• Nominated adviser AIM
• Private capital raising

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Advisory Fees: Fees for providing independent corporate finance advice including strategic advisory, M&A advisory, IPO advisory, and nominated adviser/sponsor services. Revenue derived from transaction completion fees and ongoing retained advisory mandates.
2. Transaction-based Advisory: Fees for specific transaction services including capital raises, takeovers, disposals, IPOs and listings. Typically structured as success fees tied to transaction completion.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

SPARK Advisory Partners is an FCA-authorised independent corporate finance boutique that delivers strategic, conflict-free advice on private capital fundraising, public equity capital raisings (including IPOs and listings on AIM and the Main Market), mergers and acquisitions, and regulatory services such as Nominated Adviser and Sponsor roles. Engagements are partner-led from offices in London and Leeds, with fees typically structured as transaction success fees or retained advisory mandates.

Product overview

Spark Advisory Partners is an independent corporate finance advisory firm offering a suite of professional services rather than a software product company. The primary product offering is the Business Valuation Tool, an independent assessment service that delivers institutional-quality business valuations within 24 hours. Beyond this tool, the firm's services encompass Private Capital advisory, IPO services, Strategic Advice and M&A, and Nominated Adviser and Sponsor services for both private and public companies operating in the UK market.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Private Capital Independent advisory on private capital raising for private companies and their owners, covering funding across the capital structure including leverage funding, private equity, and venture capital. Provided to UK private companies and shareholders requiring growth or exit capital.
• IPOs Strategic advice and execution support for IPOs and listings on AIM and the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange, including equity capital raisings and pre-IPO readiness. Targeted at private companies planning a public listing.
• Strategic Advice and M&A Independent M&A and strategic advisory covering buy-side and sell-side transactions, disposals, recommended and unsolicited offers, and Takeover Code matters. Provided to public and private corporate clients in the UK.
• Nominated Adviser and Sponsor FCA-regulated Nominated Adviser services for AIM companies and Sponsor services for Main Market companies, including ongoing regulatory advisory, prospectus sponsorship and compliance support. One of a small number of firms holding both statuses.
• Business Valuation Tool

Quantifiable outcome

• Greatland Resources achieved £2.1bn market cap following AIM/ASX cross-listing with SPARK as Nominated Adviser
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Rothschild & Co: Global advisory firm with a strong UK mid-market M&A and Takeover Code practice, including sponsor work; a larger, broader incumbent competing with SPARK for UK M&A and public-company advisory mandates.
• Canaccord Genuity (UK): Global investment bank with a strong UK mid- and small-cap advisory business including NOMAD, sponsor, and capital markets capabilities; a larger, more diversified competitor to SPARK in the UK mid-market.
• Houlihan Lokey (London): Global investment bank with a substantial UK M&A and capital markets advisory franchise; competes with SPARK for mid- and upper-mid-cap UK M&A, capital raising, and Takeover Code mandates.

Direct peers

• Cobalt Corporate Finance: Independent UK mid-market corporate finance advisory with M&A, debt advisory, and capital raising focus; comparable independent boutique profile to SPARK for private mid-market M&A.
• Strand Hanson: Independent UK corporate finance adviser and NOMAD; Andrew Emmott, a SPARK partner, previously worked at Strand Hanson, and the firms compete directly for AIM NOMAD and small-cap advisory work.
• Zeus Capital: Independent UK corporate finance and broking firm active in AIM and Main Market fundraisings and M&A; directly comparable to SPARK in deal profile and client base.
• Cavendish (formerly finnCap): UK small- and mid-cap advisory and corporate broking firm with AIM NOMAD and Main Market Sponsor capabilities, directly competing with SPARK for AIM IPOs, placings, and M&A mandates.
• Allenby Capital: London-based small-cap broker and NOMAD focused on AIM and Main Market clients; competes head-to-head with SPARK for NOMAD, sponsor, and fundraisings mandates in the UK small-cap space.
• WH Ireland: UK wealth manager and corporate broking arm with AIM NOMAD and small-cap M&A franchise; competes with SPARK for UK small- and mid-cap advisory mandates.
• Panmure Liberum: UK mid- and small-cap broker formed from the merger of Panmure Gordon and Liberum, with full NOMAD and Sponsor capabilities; competes with SPARK across AIM and Main Market advisory and ECM mandates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/spark-advisory-partners

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Spark Advisory Partners